27 Best Art Museums in the World, Ranked

It’s impossible to know the amount of art and artifacts on display at the world’s best museums. But it’s a safe assumption that the total number is somewhere in the billions. Housed in the greatest institutions of the planet, these artworks tell the story of human and natural history since the earth’s inception.

Which museums are truly the best for art, though? We all know the heavy hitters, like the Louvre in Paris or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. But what about the lesser-known ones that tell the more niche histories and showcase a finely tuned collection? Or the ones that aren’t necessarily known for art but have incredible art displays?

We looked at museums that display art, even if it’s not their main purpose, and whittled them down to the best 27, ranked by number of visitors. Ready to discover the best art museums in the world?

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Location: Mexico City, Mexico

No. of annual visitors: 642,368

Where to stay: InterContinental Presidente Mexico City

One of the most important cultural institutions in all of Mexico, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, or Palace of Fine Arts, enjoys worldwide fame. The palace is host to the Mexican ballet, as well as numerous national and international operas and plays.

But even if you’re not going to enjoy a night at the opera, it is worth visiting the institution to tour its collection of work by Mexican muralists. The palace proudly displays murals by the most important artists in the country, including Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo and  David Alfaro Siqueiros.

On the last floor, you’ll also find the National Museum of Architecture.

Location: Florence, Italy

No. of annual visitors: 915,278

Where to stay: Hotel Hermitage

Housed in a former Medici complex, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous museums in the world. It is also one of the oldest modern museums, opening to the public in 1765 to display some of the incredible artworks that once constituted the collections of the powerful Medici family. 

Visitors stand in line for hours for a chance to see works like Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera,” Caravaggio’s “Medusa,” Da Vinci’s “Adoration of the Magi” and “The Annunciation,” and Michelangelo’s “The Holy Family.”